Bernie Sanders is the only presidential candidate to not have a Super PAC, i.e. a political committee that gives anonymous and unlimited financial contributions to candidates. Bernie believes that corporations have too much of a say in the contemporary political process. That he has actively refused to have a Super PAC is a testament to this belief. He believes that a campaign should win because of its strength on the issues, not the strength of its pocketbook. For this strategy to be successful, Bernie must energize the disenfranchised middle and lower classes. He has been somewhat successful in this regard and support for him is as high as it has ever been.

The most popular explanation given for Sanders’ lack of support among nonwhite democratic voters is that minorities are unfamiliar with him and his stance on the issues. The logic is that since Bernie’s primary goal is to remedy income inequality, and because minorities in this country are much worse off financially than Whites, Sanders should be able to easily win over minority voters. Since he has not, they must not know who he is.

Bernie Sanders, despite his focus on income inequality, continually misses out on two factors that contribute to his passion pit: race and gender. Bernie Sanders talks about income inequality in a colorblind and gender-blind manner. This may explain why he is able to appeal to Whites but not minorities. Research suggests that minorities understand and recognize colorblindness but White Americans do not. We know that colorblindness perpetuates racial inequality; the only way to overcome racial differences is to talk about race. If Bernie does talk about how race affects income, the hierarchical and racialized nature of income inequality will not change under his leadership.

In a future where Bernie Sanders is president and makes good on his promises, the economic situation of minorities would likely improve. In Bernie’s current world, the colorblindness and systemic racism present in our economic structure do not change and minorities remain at the bottom of the pyramid. They are better off, but they are still worse off than White America. This would be particularly true for women of color.

I’ve had it stated to me by other minorities that Bernie will do something to improve minority economic welfare once he is in office but that this future plan is not something he can talk about right now if he wants to win the nomination. In their eyes, the damage this plan would have on the working class white bloc would be too great at this stage. This is something I refuse to abide. Minorities have been screwed over too many times by politicians for us to put blind faith in another. It is something we cannot and should not be asked to do.

Bernie has given some hints that he is aware of these issues as he mentions them briefly on his website. He needs to be more vocal to earn my support though. He needs to bring it from the background to the foreground. Make it part of your plan for the next debate Bernie. Make sure everyone knows that you will not keep quiet about it anymore. If your platform truly is one of the issues, make sure everyone knows that this is one of the big ones. If you don’t change, I and all minorities have the right to assume our economic welfare is not something you actually care about.

Reforming the legal system is a great first step Bernie, but racial justice is much more than that. I need to hear you talk about racial income gap Bernie. I need to hear your plan. Then and only then will I transition from “liking the Bern” to”feeling the Bern.”